SEC media days report: Arkansas covets Texas talent

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema, who spent the past seven seasons as Wisconsin’s head coach, said he understands the importance of the Razorbacks recruiting the Lone Star State.

“We want to make a huge push in Texas,” he said. “Obviously the only SEC school in Texas is Texas A&M. There are a lot of good players in Texas, and if certain schools in the state aren’t doing that great, it opens up an avenue for us to get into.”

Following this season when A&M and Arkansas play in Fayetteville, Ark., on Sept. 28, the programs will resume meeting annually at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, where they played as non-conference foes from 2009-11. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is a former Razorbacks player.

“We have a certain alum that built a stadium in the middle of (the Metroplex) that is very big,” Bielema said. “We’ve moved into Texas – (especially) East Texas – and we’ve had six, seven and sometimes eight coaches in Texas at any given time.”

Malzahn eyeing speed game

Gus Malzahn, in his first season as Auburn’s head coach, intends to employ an up-tempo offense. Malzahn scoffed at the notion that more traditionally-minded coaches have suggested such offenses are “unsafe” for defenders because they don’t allow them to substitute or get set.

“When I first heard that, to be honest with you, I thought it was a joke,” Malzahn said. “If you’re looking at rules changes, we need to look at the guys on defense who are faking injuries to slow down these pace teams.”

Alabama’s Nick Saban and Arkansas’ Bret Bielema are two of the coaches who’ve suggested up-tempo offenses can be dangerous for defenders, and Bielema didn’t care for Malzahn’s “joke” remark on Wednesday.

“I’m not a comedian,” Bielema said. “Everything I say I truly believe in.”

Saban will take his turn at the microphone Thursday, as LSU, Georgia, Alabama and Vanderbilt wrap up the three-day media event.